How much does sewer line replacement cost in Des Moines?
By Our research team · Last verified · Methodology
Most Des Moines sewer line replacements cost $3,950–$14,400 to replace about 50 ft of pipe from the house to the city sewer. Expect $7,250 for a typical job; clearing a clog instead runs $120–$1,500.
How we get this data- Typical
- $7,250
- Low end
- $2,400
- High end
- $24,150
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Des Moines's price band
Des Moines is pricier than 53% of the 195 US metros we price for sewer line work.
Replacing a 50-ft sewer line in Des Moines runs $3,950–$14,400, with $7,250 typical. Trenchless lining is $90–$250 a foot, pipe bursting $60–$250 a foot and a traditional dig $50–$250 a foot. Many problems never need a new line: a camera inspection is $120–$640, and a spot repair is $970–$5,400.
In the Des Moines metro, plumbers earn a median of about $36.08 an hour (BLS, May 2025), 18% above the US median. Wages don't set the price alone: local depth, soil, permit rules and restoration put a typical 50-ft replacement here at $7,250, against $7,500 nationally.
Before you sign, find out where your part of the line ends. Some cities fix the stretch under the street, some only to the property line, and many leave the whole lateral to the owner. Almost all require a permit ($30–$1,000) and an inspection for a repair or a new line.
Comparing cities, or after the US-wide picture? See the national guide: Sewer line cost in the USA.
$3,950–$14,400 to replace about 50 ft of sewer line in Des Moines, with $7,250 typical. Trenchless lining runs $90–$250 a foot, a spot repair $970–$5,400, and a camera inspection $120–$640. Verified November 2026. Get free Des Moines quotes →
- Full 50-ft replacement: $3,950–$14,400 ($7,250 typical)
- Trenchless lining $90–$250/ft, bursting $60–$250/ft, open trench $50–$250/ft
- Camera inspection $120–$640; snaking a clogged main $120–$540
- Spot repair of one section: $970–$5,400
- Under a driveway or slab: $7,300–$24,650 with the concrete put back
Prices verified November 2026 · Cross-referenced against 56+ American pricing sources · See methodology
Labor, pipe and basic yard restoration included unless the row says otherwise. Des Moines metro, re-verified November 2026. Permits and tap fees are set by the city.
| Service | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sewer camera inspectionper job | $120per job | $290 | $640 |
| Main line snaking (cable auger through a cleanout)per job | $120per job | $290 | $540 |
| Hydro-jetting the main lineper job | $290per job | $630 | $1,500 |
| Tree root removal (root cutter, then flush the line)per job | $150per job | $390 | $990 |
| Emergency call-out (nights, weekends, holidays)per job | $150per job | $240 | $390 |
| Spot repair: dig up and fix one broken sectionper job | $970per job | $2,450 | $5,400 |
| Point repair liner: no-dig patch over one bad sectionper job | $1,200per job | $2,150 | $3,450 |
| Belly (sag) repair: dig up and re-lay a low sectionper job | $1,450per job | $3,400 | $7,400 |
| Trenchless pipe lining (CIPP)per foot | $90per foot | $160 | $250 |
| Pipe bursting (new pipe pulled through the old one)per foot | $60per foot | $150 | $250 |
| Traditional dig and replace (open trench)per foot | $50per foot | $120 | $250 |
| Sewer line replacement, about 50 ft (traditional dig or trenchless)per job | $3,950per job | $7,250 | $14,400 |
| Replacement under a driveway or slab, about 50 ft (concrete restored)per job | $7,300per job | $12,150 | $24,650 |
| Sidewalk or street cut and restoration (public right of way)per job | $780per job | $2,450 | $5,900 |
| Sewer cleanout installation (outdoor, near the property line)per job | $490per job | $1,050 | $1,950 |
| Backwater valve installation (outdoor inline at the low end; cut into a basement floor at the high end)per job | $490per job | $1,950 | $4,950 |
| Septic-to-sewer conversion (hookup, old tank abandoned, permits)per job | $2,950per job | $6,850 | $14,850 |
| City sewer tap or connection fee (new hookup)flat | $400flat | $2,000 | $15,000 |
| Sewer permit and inspectionflat | $30flat | $250 | $1,000 |
| Sewage backup cleanup (basement, per event)per job | $970per job | $2,450 | $4,950 |
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Prices verified November 2026 · Cross-referenced against 56+ American pricing sources · See methodology
Prices are for the Des Moines metro: the city and its close suburbs. Dense blocks in Downtown, East Village & Sherman Hill run higher; areas with more yard to work in, like West Des Moines, Ankeny & Urbandale, usually run lower.
Sewer line prices across Des Moines
Same city, four price bands. Prices run highest in Downtown, East Village & Sherman Hill and lowest in West Des Moines, Ankeny & Urbandale, mostly because of access, concrete and street cuts rather than the pipe itself.
Downtown, East Village & Sherman Hill
- Per job
- $7,250–$12,700 per job
- Typical job
- $240–$1,450 / clog cleared + camera
Downtown jobs cost more to set up: tight access, paid parking and more concrete to cut and patch. Trenchless methods pay off most here.
North & East Des Moines
- Per job
- $6,550–$11,250 per job
- Typical job
- $230–$1,300 / clog cleared + camera
Prices here run near or a little above the city typical. If your house still has its original clay or cast iron line, get it filmed before you compare quotes; many old lines can be lined instead of dug up.
South Side & Southeast
- Per job
- $6,150–$10,500 per job
- Typical job
- $220–$1,250 / clog cleared + camera
Typical city pricing. Most lines run under a front yard and a sidewalk; the sidewalk crossing is the part that adds permits and concrete.
West Des Moines, Ankeny & Urbandale
- Per job
- $5,100–$9,050 per job
- Typical job
- $200–$1,200 / clog cleared + camera
Where homes have newer PVC lines, full replacements are rare; most calls are clogs, cleanout installs and backwater valves.
Real-world sewer line costs in Des Moines
Here's what common sewer line jobs cost in Des Moines in 2026, labor, pipe and basic yard restoration included.
Slow drains or a backup: snake the main and film it
The most common call. Snaking through a cleanout runs $120–$540, and a camera pass after it $120–$640. At night or on a weekend the call-out alone is $150–$390.
Roots in an old clay line: cut, jet and keep it clear
A root cutter ($150–$990) plus a hydro-jet ($290–$1,500) clears most root problems. If the camera shows the pipe is still in one piece, a yearly jet can hold off a $7,250 replacement for years.
One broken or sagging section: spot repair
Digging one hole and replacing a few feet of pipe costs $970–$5,400. A no-dig point liner over the same spot runs $1,200–$3,450, and fixing a belly where the pipe has sagged $1,450–$7,400.
Whole line, about 50 ft: trenchless
Lining 50 ft runs $4,500–$12,500 and bursting $3,000–$12,500, usually in a day or two with one or two small pits. Ask whether the price includes the camera before and after, the permit and the cleanout.
Line under the driveway or slab
Concrete is what makes this expensive: $7,300–$24,650 for about 50 ft with the concrete put back. Bursting or lining from two pits usually costs less than cutting a full trench through the driveway.
How much does sewer line replacement cost in Des Moines?
$3,950–$14,400 for a full 50-ft replacement, and $7,250 is what most Des Moines homeowners pay. The method sets the number: lining runs $4,500–$12,500 for 50 ft, bursting $3,000–$12,500, and a dig under lawn $2,500–$12,500. Under a driveway or slab the same job is $7,300–$24,650.
Smaller jobs cost far less: $120–$640 for a camera inspection, $970–$5,400 for a spot repair and $1,200–$3,450 for a no-dig point liner. Get the camera video before anyone quotes a full line. Re-checked against 56 sources, November 2026.
Sewer line prices in Des Moines (2026) by job
A full 50-ft replacement runs $3,950–$14,400, trenchless lining of the same line $4,500–$12,500, and a camera inspection $120–$640.
| Line on the quote | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sewer camera inspection | $120 | $290 | $640 |
| Main line snaking | $120 | $290 | $540 |
| Hydro-jetting the main line | $290 | $630 | $1,500 |
| Spot repair (one section) | $970 | $2,450 | $5,400 |
| Trenchless lining, 50 ft | $4,500 | $8,000 | $12,500 |
| Pipe bursting, 50 ft | $3,000 | $7,500 | $12,500 |
| Dig and replace, 50 ft (before restoration) | $2,500 | $6,000 | $12,500 |
| Under a driveway or slab, 50 ft | $7,300 | $12,150 | $24,650 |
A $290 camera inspection is the cheapest line on this table and the one that decides the rest. It shows whether you need a $2,450 spot repair, a $2,150 point liner or a full $7,250 replacement.
What moves a sewer quote in Des Moines:
- What's on top of the pipe: lawn is cheap to dig; a driveway or slab job runs $7,300–$24,650.
- Depth: deeper lines need bigger holes, shoring and more hauling.
- Pipe condition: a round, cracked pipe can be lined ($90–$250 a foot); a collapsed one has to be burst or dug.
- Street and sidewalk: a cut in the public right of way adds $780–$5,900 plus city permits.
- Length: about $4,550 for 25 ft, $7,250 for 50 ft and $12,700 for 100 ft at typical Des Moines prices.
Ask every Des Moines contractor for the same four things: the camera footage, the method and length, the permit and restoration they include, and the warranty. Compare those, not the per-foot headline. Get a quote for your sewer job →
Sewer line cost in Des Moines by length
A 25-ft run is about $2,450–$9,000, a 50-ft line $3,950–$14,400, and a 100-ft run $6,900–$25,200 in Des Moines, before driveway or street restoration.
Worked example: a 50-ft line lined from one cleanout at $160 a foot is $8,000, plus a $290 camera check and a $250 permit, for about $8,540. The same line dug under lawn at $120 a foot is $6,000 before restoration.
Pits, permits, the camera and set-up cost about the same for any length, which is why short runs cost more per foot. A 100-ft line at typical Des Moines prices is about $12,700, not twice the 50-ft price.
Des Moines sewer repair methods compared
| Repair method | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Trenchless pipe lining (CIPP) | $4,500–$12,500 for 50 ft | Cracked or root-filled pipe that is still round and on grade |
| Trenchless pipe bursting | $3,000–$12,500 for 50 ft | Broken, collapsed or undersized pipe; new pipe can go one size up |
| Traditional dig and replace (open trench) | $2,500–$12,500 for 50 ft | Shallow lines under lawn, sagging lines that need re-grading |
| Traditional dig, deep or under a driveway | $7,300–$24,650 for 50 ft | Lines under concrete when trenchless can't be used |
| Spot repair (dig up one section) | $970–$5,400 per repair | One break or bad joint in an otherwise sound line |
| Point repair liner (no dig, one section) | $1,200–$3,450 per repair | One crack or joint under a driveway, tree or walkway |
| Belly repair (dig and re-grade a low spot) | $1,450–$7,400 per repair | A sag that holds water and keeps clogging |
| Hydro-jet and root cut (no repair) | $440–$2,500 per visit | Roots or grease in a pipe that is still in one piece |
Per-foot price vs the full bill in Des Moines
A quote of $160 a foot for lining sounds simple, but 50 ft at that rate is $8,000 before the extras. Add the camera ($290) and the permit ($250) and the bill is about $8,540, before any access pit or cleanout. Compare whole-job prices, not per-foot rates.
Digging looks cheaper per foot ($50–$250), but restoration is extra: a sidewalk or street cut runs $780–$5,900, and a line under a driveway can reach $24,650. Trenchless costs more per foot and less to put back.
What's included in a Des Moines sewer line quote (and what costs extra)
A standard replacement quote covers the camera check, the digging or trenchless work, the new pipe, the connections at the house and the street side, and basic backfill and yard cleanup. It usually leaves out:
- The permit and inspection: $30–$1,000, set by the city
- Sidewalk or street restoration: $780–$5,900 when the line runs under public space
- Driveway or slab concrete: part of why a line under concrete runs $7,300–$24,650
- A new cleanout or backwater valve: $490–$1,950 and $490–$4,950
Ask for the warranty in writing, and a copy of the camera video from before and after the work.
Depth and frost
Depth depends on the slope from the house to the main and, in cold-winter cities, the frost line. Deeper trenches take longer and may need shoring. Deep lines push a 50-ft job toward $14,400.
What sits on top of the pipe
Lawn is the cheapest thing to dig through. A line under a driveway or slab runs $7,300–$24,650 in Des Moines because the concrete has to be cut out and poured again.
Pipe material and age
Clay joints let roots in, cast iron corrodes and scales inside, and Orangeburg fiber pipe, used through the 1970s, loses strength with age. Older pipe is more likely to need a full line than a spot fix.
Trenchless or dig
Lining runs $90–$250 a foot and bursting $60–$250, against $50–$250 for an open trench. Trenchless saves the yard, the driveway and the restoration bill.
Length of the run
Price scales with length: about $4,550 for a 25-ft run and $12,700 for 100 ft at typical Des Moines prices, because pits, permits and set-up cost the same either way.
Permits, street cuts and who owns the line
Permits run $30–$1,000. If the pipe crosses the sidewalk or street, a cut and restoration adds $780–$5,900, unless the city owns and fixes that part.
Local labor
Des Moines plumbers earn a median of about $36.08 an hour (BLS, May 2025), against $30.67 nationally. Depth, soil, permits and restoration matter as much as wages here: the typical Des Moines replacement is $7,250, below the $7,500 national typical.
- Get the camera video first.A $290 inspection shows where the problem is and how bad. Ask for the video file and the footage marks, and show them to a second contractor.
- Ask who owns the part under the street.Some cities fix the stretch under the sidewalk and street, or offer rebates and loans. One call to the sewer utility can take a big piece off the bill.
- Price a spot repair, not just a new line.If the camera shows one bad joint, a $970–$5,400 spot repair or a $1,200–$3,450 point liner may be all you need.
- Get trenchless and dig quotes side by side.Ask for both methods for the same length, with restoration included. Under concrete, trenchless usually wins; under open lawn, a dig can be cheaper.
- Don't wait for the emergency.An after-hours call-out adds $150–$390, and after-hours labor runs 1.5–3× the weekday rate. Book the camera and repair on a weekday when you can compare quotes.
- Keep roots back on a schedule.If roots are the only problem, a yearly hydro-jet ($630 typical) can buy years before a $7,250 replacement.
Get these in writing from any Des Moines contractor before you pay a deposit:
- The camera footage, with the distance to each problem marked
- The method (lining, bursting or dig) and the exact length of pipe
- Pipe material and size, and who handles the city connection
- Permit, inspection and any right-of-way or street-cut fees
- Restoration: lawn, sidewalk, driveway or street, and who does it
- Access pits, cleanouts or a backwater valve if they're part of the job
- Start date, days on site and what happens if they hit rock or water
- The written warranty and a camera check after the work
How much does it cost to replace a sewer line in Des Moines?
$3,950–$14,400 for about 50 ft, with $7,250 typical. Lines under a driveway or slab run $7,300–$24,650, and a single broken section can often be fixed for $970–$5,400.
How much does trenchless sewer repair cost in Des Moines?
Lining runs $90–$250 a foot, about $4,500–$12,500 for 50 ft. Pipe bursting runs $60–$250 a foot, about $3,000–$12,500 for 50 ft.
How much is a sewer camera inspection in Des Moines?
$120–$640, typically $290. It costs more if there's no cleanout and the plumber has to pull a toilet, or if the line has to be cleared first.
What does it cost to clear a main sewer line clog in Des Moines?
$120–$540 to snake it, or $290–$1,500 to hydro-jet it. Nights and weekends, expect a call-out of $150–$390.
How much does a sewer spot repair cost in Des Moines?
$970–$5,400 to dig up and replace one section. A no-dig point repair liner over the same spot costs $1,200–$3,450.
Is trenchless cheaper than digging in Des Moines?
Per foot, no: lining is $90–$250 against $50–$250 for an open trench. Overall it often is, because there's little or no concrete, sidewalk or landscaping to put back.
How much more does it cost if the sewer line is under my driveway?
About $7,300–$24,650 for 50 ft in Des Moines with the concrete restored, against $3,950–$14,400 under lawn. Bursting or lining from two small pits usually costs less than a full trench.
Who pays to fix the sewer line between my house and the street in Des Moines?
Usually the homeowner, at least to the property line and often all the way to the main. Some cities repair the part under the street or offer rebates, so call your sewer utility before work starts.
Do I need a permit to replace a sewer line in Des Moines?
Almost always. Expect $30–$1,000 for the permit and inspection, and more if the work crosses the sidewalk or street. A licensed contractor should pull it.
Does homeowners insurance cover sewer line replacement in Des Moines?
Usually not when the pipe fails from age, roots or wear. Separate sewer line warranty plans and policies exist, some offered through city partners; read the cap and exclusions before you count on one.
Prices verified November 2026 · Cross-referenced against 56+ American pricing sources · See methodology
Prices for the Des Moines metro area, November 2026. Outer suburbs may vary.
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